Nils Frahm and Woodkid releasing an album with... Robert DeNiro?

Contemporary classical composer Nils Frahm is teaming up with musician and video director Woodkid and…Robert DeNiro for a new mini-LP constituting the soundtrack of a new short that stars Bobby D himself.

Ellis, directed by JR and written by Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Munich), is about an immigrant (DeNiro, perhaps re-investigating Godfather II territory) wandering through what remains of Ellis Island immigration office. The official synopsis:

Set in the abandoned Ellis Island Hospital complex and using JR’s UNFRAMED art installations, ELLIS tells the forgotten story of the immigrants who built America. It is the story of the ghosts of our countries past, the individuals who fled poverty, discrimination, and dictatorships, for a chance at a new life and eerily foreshadows the plight of those who currently seek the same opportunities and safety in this country and other parts of the world.

The LP of the same title is out on June 8 via erased tapes and features compositions by Nils overlaid by spoken word by DeNiro. Said Nils of the project:

I had to cancel a trip to Brussels because of a terror warning; all events got cancelled and I stayed home, having an unexpected day off. I felt rather depressed that day, thinking that the Europe I knew was already gone. I sat down at the harmonium, listened to Robert De Niro’s voice and played for the rest of the day. The result is ‘Winter Morning II,’ the B-side of the Ellis soundtrack release.

DeNiro’s been expanding his repertoire quite a bit lately, also performing stand-up for the first time in his life recently.

Proceeds from the LP go to charity charity Sea Watch. You can watch the trailer and hear a teaser from the LP below.